Harsco aids student high life

A new development in the heart of Manchester, UK’s vibrant student district has been aided with a double-decked mechanical access solution from Harsco Infrastructure.

Working with main contractor Shepherd Construction on the Student Castle project, Harsco designed and supplied a bespoke system using solutions from its range of construction access equipment. It provides access to all external elevations to the 31-storey student accommodation block.

The Student Castle, near Manchester Oxford Road rail station, had a complex profile with variations in height, projections and recesses. Harsco’s team proposed the use of mast-climbing work platforms to provide clear, unobstructed access to all areas of the facade, while allowing the transport of materials to the working area to be unimpeded.

Harsco installed a mix of single and double mast platforms in 17 positions around the exterior of the building, with some reaching up to 100 m. Of the 17 platforms, six were double deck. Several of the platforms were mounted on roof areas at various points around the structure, requiring carefully engineered load-bearing support structures.

The company also introduced a unique safety gate system. While most platforms force the operator to lower the whole platform to base level before entering or exiting it, Harsco’s system allowed the team to access platforms from the upper floors of the building. This, said Harsco, increased speed of access to the working area.